Defrost a freezer

Video: How to defrost a Freezer easily in under 15 minutes - Remove ice from Freezer to keep it efficient

Content

To step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the freezer for defrosting
Part 2 of 3: Removing the ice pack
Part 3 of 3: Preparing the freezer to turn back on
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

Over time, a thick layer of ice can form on the inside of your freezer if your freezer doesn't have an automatic defrosting system. Modern freezers typically have a system that defrosts the ice on its own without you having to do anything, but older freezers and some cheaper models may require manual defrosting. An ice layer in your freezer makes the appliance work less efficiently and uses more electricity. It's also more difficult for you to put and take things out in the freezer. Defrosting the freezer is quite simple, but the process will take an hour or two.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the freezer for defrosting

Eat as much food as possible in advance. Getting as much food out of your freezer as possible will make the process easier. In the week before defrosting your freezer, prepare and eat as much food as possible from the freezer.
- This is also a good way to get rid of food that is almost no longer good.
Put the food from the freezer in a cold place. If possible, ask your neighbors if you can put some of your food in their freezer for a short time. The next best option is to put the food in a cool box with some ice or frozen ice packs.
- If you have no other choice, wrap the food with some cooling elements in a blanket and place it in a cool place in the house.
Switch off the freezer and / or unplug it. It is a good idea to unplug if possible. Of course you don't want to stand in water while working around the device. If you have a fridge freezer, food will keep in the fridge for 1-2 hours if you keep the door closed.
- Some freezers have a switch that you can flip to turn the freezer off. You do not have to remove the plug from the socket.
Place old towels and baking trays on the floor near the freezer. A lot of water will come out of your freezer while defrosting, so it's best to be prepared for it. Place several towels on the floor around the bottom of the freezer. Place baking trays on top of the towels but below the bottom edge of the freezer to catch the extra water.
Find the drain hose if your freezer has one and put the end of it in a bucket. Some freezers have a drain hose at the bottom of the freezer that helps to drain the water. If your freezer has one, put the end in a low bowl or bucket so that the water can run into it.
- It may also be a good idea to place cubes under the front legs of the freezer to help water flow to the drain.

Part 2 of 3: Removing the ice pack

Remove the shelves from the freezer and leave the freezer door or lid open. The warm air is your first aid in thawing the ice layer. Hold the door or lid with an object, as some freezers have a door that closes automatically. This is also a good time to remove shelves, drawers and other loose parts from your freezer if your freezer has them.
- If you can't get some of the planks off, let them sit until the ice has melted a little more.
- If you just leave the freezer open and don't do anything else, it will probably take 2-3 hours to fully defrost the freezer. The exact time depends on the thickness of the ice cover.
Scrape off the worst of the ice with a spatula to thin the ice pack. If you have thick layers of ice in your freezer, the ice will melt faster if you scrape off some of the ice. Use the edge of a spatula to scrape the ice into a bowl or bucket so that it can melt outside the freezer.
- You can also use an ice scraper. Be careful though, as you can damage the inside of your freezer.
Place a bowl of hot water in the freezer to help the ice thaw faster. Place the bowl at the bottom of the freezer. If you have space, you can even put several bowls of water in the freezer. If possible, use boiling water, but be careful not to burn yourself when moving the bowls.
- The steam helps to melt the ice. When the water gets cold, put fresh water in the bowls. You will need to do this approximately every five minutes.
Use a hair dryer to make the ice melt faster. Set the hair dryer to its highest setting and keep it 6 inches away from the ice. Point the hair dryer at the ice pack in the freezer. The ice will melt significantly faster this way, but make sure to keep the cord and hair dryer away from the water for safety. Also move the hair dryer constantly over the ice layer so that certain areas do not get too hot.
- You can do the same with some vacuum cleaners. You will have to attach the hose to the outlet, and hot air will blow out of the hose. Use the hot air from the hose to melt the ice.
- You can also use a steamer designed for cleaning surfaces or removing wrinkles from clothing. Set the device to a high setting and take it over the ice.
Continue to scrape away ice as it melts. The pieces of ice will slide down the walls as they melt. Use the spatula to remove them and put them in a bucket or tub to help the freezer thaw faster.
- Mop up the water from the ice with a dry towel.

Part 3 of 3: Preparing the freezer to turn back on

Clean the shelves and drawers in a sink with soapy water when they are heated up. Fill the sink with warm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. When the parts are at room temperature, put them in the water to soak.
- After the parts have soaked in the soapy water for a few minutes, scrub them in the warm soapy water with a dishcloth. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and shake off as much water as possible from the parts.
- It is important to wait for the parts to warm to room temperature, as glass shelves can crack if you move them too quickly from a frozen environment to a warm one.
Once the ice has melted, wipe the inside of the freezer with a mixture of baking soda and water. Mix 1 tablespoon (20 grams) of baking soda with 1 liter of water. Dip a cloth in the mixture and wring it out. Use the cloth to wipe the inside of the freezer, including the walls, door or lid, and bottom of the freezer.
- The baking soda will help clean and freshen up the freezer.
Dry the loose parts and the inside of the freezer with a tea towel. Remove as much excess moisture from the freezer as possible with a clean, dry tea towel. Also wipe the shelves and drawers and use a new tea towel if necessary.
- Let the freezer air dry for 10-15 minutes. Leave the door open and walk somewhere else. When you return, the freezer and shelves should be completely free of moisture.
- Any moisture that remains in the freezer will simply freeze again.
Put everything back in the freezer and turn it back on. Slide the shelves and drawers back into place, if your freezer has them. Switch the freezer back on or plug it in again. Put the food you saved back on the shelves and in the drawers.
- Throw out any food you think has thawed and overheated, especially foods like fish. The food is then no longer safe to eat.

Tips

Place a table fan on a chair or other suitable raised surface. Set the fan to the highest setting to blow warm air into the freezer.
A wet and dry vacuum works well to get the water and ice out of the freezer faster.
To prevent another layer of ice from forming in your freezer, put a little vegetable oil or glycerine (available at most drugstores) on a paper towel and apply a thin layer to the inside of your freezer. That way you ensure that an ice layer forms less quickly and the ice will also be less difficult to remove.